The university announced Tuesday that professor Dr. Saleh Naser will participate in a clinical trial of a new antibiotic therapy for the disease. Naser developed DNA technology that detects traits associated with Crohn's disease called MAP, which is short for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, according to a news release.

“I have high hopes that this clinical trial may lead to finding a cure," Naser said in a prepared statement.

The clinical trial has the FDA’s green-light and will be run by RedHill Biopharma, a pharmaceutical company that focuses on clinical-stage treatment, according to its website. RedHill will include 240 people in the trial, according to the release.

Naser, who has been with UCF since 1995, said she is excited to be part of the trial.

"I am ecstatic to be part of a team, which will help determine whether or not MAP is associated with Crohn's disease; certainly a final answer to a one 100-year old controversy," Naser said.